What risk does the rise of automation hold for the job market? Will the future see the maintenance of machines made in Germany being taken over by service providers in Asia? Or are there far more positive effects of Industry 4.0 for Germany?

Without a strong education base, a global power cannot maintain its leadership position. The United States' massive investments in education following World War II and during the Cold War space race allowed the nation to successfully compete on existing resources. This trend is ending.

A who's who of international economy watchers are imploring Washington to do what it hasn't done in nearly a decade: Pass a long-term, large-scale infrastructure plan. And while I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, I think it could be presented in a less abstract fashion.

It is critical that we take America's skills crisis into our own hands. We have the opportunity to change course by engaging students in STEM learning and training the next generation workforce that America will rely on. Early adopters of this strategy are reaping the benefits.

Let's look at the company's big, shiny $250 billion commitment to American-made products. Sound like a big number? It is. But just like the endless aisles at your local Supercenter, everything is big with Walmart.

While most veterans transition back to civilian life successfully, many still struggle. Securing steady employment in a rewarding, lucrative and long-term career is an enormous part of that transition.

Closing the skills gap can be done by increasing the demand for workers, upgrading worker skills, and increasing the supply of workers who are available. We simply must get our public schools actively engaged in this quest.

Even when you tell them about the many high-paying jobs that are available in the manufacturing industry, it is just not a career that they are considering. And of those few high school students who might show an interest, fewer yet would be young women.

A strong reason to do infrastructure now is that interest rates are very low so financing is cheap and trillions of private money is on the sidelines that could be borrowed inexpensively to finance infrastructure expansion.

Twenty years ago I played a veteran in Forrest Gump and over the years I have been privileged to meet and support many real life Lt. Dans, active duty military, and veterans. They continue to inspire me to encourage our nation to do everything it can to honor and support this generation of veterans.

Right now, with the U.S. manufacturing sector employing less than 10 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force, the sector is not even half the size it needs to be for our nation to again have a balanced, high-growth economy.